Amid GOP House-Speaker Vote Fiasco, Florida's Donalds Votes For McCarthy

Florida Phoenix

January 6, 2023

During a continued drama over who will be the next U.S. House Speaker in Congress, Florida’s Byron Donalds had catapulted to national prominence this week, as a possible nominee for the Speaker’s job. Several lawmakers, including himself, voted for Donalds over several days.

But by Friday afternoon, Donalds decided to vote for embattled GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, who had long been the front-runner but had not been able to garner all the votes needed to become the Speaker — 218 votes.

At around lunchtime Friday, it was Donalds’ turn to vote on the Speaker issue. He voted for McCarthy, and several GOP lawmakers clapped and cheered.

Donalds has been a part of a small group of conservative GOP House members steadfastly opposed to McCarthy’s becoming Speaker.

Donalds is one of only four Black Republicans serving in the 118th House of Representatives. Prior to winning his Congressional seats, Donalds had been one of the few Republican Black members in the Florida House of Representatives.

During the saga over the House Speaker issue this week, GOP lawmakers said Donalds would be the first Black U.S. House Speaker if he could garner the 218 votes. But that didn’t happen.

As it stands now, Donalds supports Kevin McCarthy for U.S. House Speaker. But the drama continues this afternoon, because there still is no Speaker.

The Florida Phoenix, a nonprofit news site that’s free of advertising and free to readers, covers state government and politics through a mix of in-depth stories, briefs, and social media updates on the latest events, editorial cartoons, and progressive commentary. The Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers.